Scientists from the University of Iowa found that exercise is beneficial for the brain and the blood supply to this organ, but it takes time for the positive effects to accumulate. Research results published In Journal of Applied Physiology (JAPPL).
Twenty-eight people aged 40 to 64 with mild high blood pressure or hypertension participated in the study. All of them led a sedentary lifestyle. After obtaining information about the health status of the subjects, they were divided into two groups. For three months, the volunteers in the first group were asked to perform supervised aerobic training. The second group served as the control group; Participants were instructed to eat healthily and increase their physical activity levels as desired.
Before the beginning and at the end of the experimental period, scientists collected data on the state of the cardiorespiratory system and cognitive abilities of the participants, and also evaluated the intensity of the pulse of blood flow in the cerebral arteries of each of them.
The results of the experiment showed that after completing the 12-week training program, the subjects in the first group improved their working memory and physical endurance. The researchers found that the strength of fast blood flow in the brain’s arteries also increased, but only slightly.
According to scientists, such results do not show that physical activity does not benefit brain health, but that it is difficult to adapt the organ’s vascular network to training. The authors of the scientific study suggested that to achieve the best effect (improvement of cerebral blood flow), the training period should last more than 12 weeks.
Previous scientists I suspected In the brain’s ability to remove toxins during sleep.